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Diversity in Nursing: An NLN Vision Statement

National League for Nursing Publishes Vision for Achieving Meaningful Inclusion in Nursing Education

Calls on Nursing Education Community to Lead Efforts to
Expand Diversity Among Faculty and Students
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“It is imperative that educational institutions produce health professionals that mirror our nation and have the capacity to meet the health care needs of all communities and individuals…”
-NLN President Dr. Anne Bavier

Washington, DC – February 16, 2016 - The National League for Nursing believes that diversity and quality health care are inseparable. Together they create a path to increased access and improved health and can eliminate health disparities. As noted in the just released vision statement, Achieving Diversity and Meaningful Inclusion in Nursing Education, “A culturally responsive workforce and a relationship-centered health care system offer healing and hope to all patients.”

For years, the NLN has addressed the need for nursing education to expand diversity among faculty and students. While the League has created awareness about the need to have a strong diverse workforce, progress has been slow in changing the demographics of the nursing profession.

Said Dr. Anne Bavier, NLN president and dean of the nursing school at University of Texas at Arlington: “It is imperative that educational institutions produce health professionals that mirror our nation and have the capacity to meet the health care needs of all communities and individuals, including those of various abilities, ages, cultures, ethnicities, gender identity, race, and socioeconomic status. A framework of inclusive excellence connects the challenges of diversity and inclusion and can lead to positive institutional change.”

The League’s latest entry in its Vision Series was produced by the
NLN Center for Diversity and Global Initiatives. “Achieving Diversity and Meaningful Inclusion in Nursing Education has a wealth of important data on diversity, or the lack thereof, in nursing and nursing education,” said NLN CEO Dr. Beverly Malone. “And it concludes with three sets of recommendations for deans, directors, chairs of nursing programs; for nurse faculty; and for the National League for Nursing.”

About the National League for NursingDedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its more than 40,000 individual and more than 1,200 institutional members, comprising nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and health care organizations.